Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1141

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yes, I have.”

There was only one person in the Central Plains who would not bow before the Emperor of the world.

Gi Cheon-ung, sitting comfortably across from the Emperor, shone with a keen light.

“Hwa-jeong’s progress is rapid.”

“It’s thanks to you.”

“Although I removed the impurities before passing it on, achieving mastery requires the cultivator’s focus and talent. If you had trained in martial arts from a young age, you could have become an exceptional master.”

These words, spoken by none other than the leader of the Divine Flame Church, were the highest of praises.

The Emperor smiled.

“Unfortunately, my interest lay more in the people than in martial arts.”

“I figured as much.”

Gi Cheon-ung was once again amazed.

If one believed that the ruler of a nation was the son of heaven, a person chosen by the heavens, then the high officials, and indeed the whole world, should have offered the Emperor the best health techniques and elixirs.

Yet, the Emperor had no interest in such things. If that were the case, he should have been made to learn martial arts, but the Emperor had only learned a breathing technique passed down through generations and had not touched any other martial art.

“Indeed, the Three Teachings [Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism] and the empires of the continent are different.”

“In the grand scheme, there is no difference. Your world is also a small empire. The ideals you seek from your ruler may be different, but we all live each day striving for proper governance.”

Gi Cheon-ung’s eyes deepened.

‘Indeed.’

Son of Heaven, the Emperor.

From the moment he became Emperor, he would have become the most honored person in the world. This meant that he was the sole sovereign under heaven, and acknowledging the existence of other empires would create a problem with his legitimacy.

Yet, the Emperor saw himself as just another emperor. He was saying that there were empires even in the distant lands beyond the borders.

‘His caliber is different.’

Such people were rare.

Thinking once again about the greatness of the continent, Gi Cheon-ung spoke.

“The initial battle seems likely to end in victory.”

“Is that so?”

He didn’t seem surprised or pleased. Gi Cheon-ung was once again impressed by his calm nod, as if it were only natural.

“I heard that the Gansu war was almost a mutual destruction, but the Gansu region is not beyond recovery. Given some time, it seems they can regain their former strength.”

“What about Shaanxi?”

“Shaanxi was the truly dangerous one. According to the latest information, there were more survivors than in Gansu, but if it weren’t for a fellow named So Hyun-rip who joined late, the situation could have been dire.”

The Emperor’s eyes flashed.

“Changwang [a title meaning ‘Spear King’] So Hyun-rip.”

“So it is said. I’ve heard of him vaguely. They say he is the strongest with a spear in the world.”

Gi Cheon-ung continued.

“They say he leads a cavalry unit. Their role was decisive.”

“How fascinating.”

“Hmm?”

The Emperor stroked his beard.

“If they were pushed back that much, any unit would have suffered irreparable damage. Even if Changwang came with a cavalry unit, unless their numbers were in the thousands, a reversal would have been impossible.”

“……”

“If Changwang had led such a large unit, the Imperial Palace, the Martial Alliance, and even the Black Imperial Castle’s intelligence network would not have missed it. That means it was a small cavalry unit.”

“That’s what I heard.”

“I know how important morale is on the battlefield. But it seems that the masters of the martial world possess something beyond imagination. A small number of participants can reverse the outcome of a battle….”

Gi Cheon-ung chuckled.

“That’s how powerful a master who has reached the Heavenly Flower Realm [a high level of martial arts mastery] is. Of course, depending on the martial arts they have learned and what enlightenment they have focused on, their application will vary.”

“And those monsters are now swarming the Imperial Palace.”

“That’s about right.”

“I heard that the participants were the Yeon Clan Head, the Black Imperial Castle Lord, and the former abbot of Shaolin.”

“You’ve been listening to the reports.”

“Since the commander-in-chief was the Black Imperial Castle Lord, it must have been his decision.”

The Emperor tilted his head.

“If the power of the Limitless Ones [another term for masters of the Heavenly Flower Realm] is so amazing, why not mobilize them in large numbers to strike the enemy?”

Gi Cheon-ung shook his head.

“You are bold and have accumulated knowledge in many fields, but you are not a war expert. Of course, neither am I.”

“That can’t be helped.”

“The Black Imperial Castle Lord said that the less the Heavenly Flower Realm masters are revealed, the better. The war has just begun. This battle is just the initial one. If we reveal how many Heavenly Flower Realm masters are in the Imperial Palace, the enemy might pour in an overwhelming force when they invade the Imperial Palace again.”

“At the same time.”

The Emperor’s eyes flashed.

It was such an intense gaze that even Gi Cheon-ung flinched for a moment.

“The Imperial Palace is where I reside. Although my death has been reported, the Imperial Palace itself has a powerful influence. We may have kept the Limitless Ones hidden to prevent the enemy from knowing I am alive, but the existence of the Son of Heaven is absolute in the continent. Even the most brilliant strategist would not use the existence of the Son of Heaven as part of their strategy, as it would be an unforgivable act of disrespect.”

“……”

“Indeed, that is like the Black Imperial Castle Lord.”

“Why? Are you angry?”

“How could I be?”

The Emperor chuckled.

“It means they are running without any backup, so I am relieved.”

“That’s a nice way to put it. Still, it seems a bit disappointing, doesn’t it?”

“I am an existence that does not need to be disappointed. I only judge whether something is right or wrong and then get angry or forgive.”

“Is it because your energy has increased? You seem more assertive than before.”

“My energy has increased, but I have never lived a life comfortable enough for my mood or personality to be swayed by such things. I am simply stating the facts.”

“You are truly amazing.”

“What I want to say, what I am curious about, is this.”

The Emperor’s eyes, gazing intently at Gi Cheon-ung, gradually began to emit a strange glow.

“The Black Imperial Castle Lord and the Yeon Clan Head told me before, and even before that, Gok Gyeong told me.”

“……”

“That most of the masters who have reached the Limitless Realm are mentally unstable?”

Gi Cheon-ung nodded.

“That could be the case.”

“Can you explain?”

“The reason is simple. The Heavenly Flower Realm is a realm that humans cannot originally reach. It is an untouchable area that has been determined from the beginning.”

“Is that so?”

“To put it simply, it’s similar to the probability of a beast like a stray dog or a fox suddenly gaining intelligence, accumulating hundreds of years of merit, and becoming a divine immortal.”

“The probability of a beast becoming a demon immortal….”

“Such a thing does not actually happen. At least, not in my common sense. There are many legends and myths, but there are beasts that have become spiritual beings by absorbing the energy of nature, but becoming a divine immortal is nonsense.”

The Emperor quietly marveled.

“I knew it was a difficult realm, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. It means they have pioneered a literally impossible area.”

“That’s correct.”

“So, because they have reached an impossible realm, their minds cannot withstand it?”

“That’s about right. Of course, they have gained such amazing enlightenment that they have made the impossible possible, so not all who reach the Heavenly Flower Realm go crazy or become strange. In the meantime….”

Gi Cheon-ung tapped his head with his index finger.

“If they have learned a technique or mental cultivation method that thoroughly governs the upper dantian [an energy center in the body], they can maintain a sound mind even after reaching the Heavenly Flower Realm.”

“Is Gok Gyeong like that? I have never thought that he was crazy or mentally unstable.”

“I have seen him too. He did not learn a mental cultivation method that governs the upper dantian itself. But I also didn’t think that he would dedicate his life to you because of his personality.”

The Emperor’s eyes deepened.

“Does that mean that mental abnormality manifested in the form of loyalty?”

“That’s something I can’t know. You’ve been watching him for a long time, haven’t you?”

“I have. That’s why I made him my personal guard.”

“There are Heavenly Flower Realm masters who maintain a sound mind even without learning a mental cultivation method specialized for the upper dantian. It doesn’t mean that everyone is like that.”

“Then it’s even more dangerous.”

“……”

“Doesn’t it mean that each of those who have reached the Limitless Realm is unpredictable?”

“That’s what it means.”

The Emperor laughed out loud.

“How interesting. Then, this war can be seen as a festival of crazy people who are unpredictable, can’t it?”

“……Well, I’ve never thought of it that way.”

The Emperor looked up at the ceiling.

Gi Cheon-ung could not imagine what was reflected in his eyes.

“Well, the world was already going crazy.”

“……”

“The Limitless Realm is the same. Originally, people are born with their own individuality. The fact that all those who have reached the Limitless Realm have different paths and mental states means that they are all in a state like a reborn human.”

“That’s one way to look at it.”

“A war where monsters with unparalleled power, who are virtually invincible in terms of martial strength, are running wild without any control….”

At that moment, Gi Cheon-ung felt a chill run down his spine.

He himself had reached the Heavenly Flower Realm, but he had never thought like the Emperor.

But listening carefully, the Emperor was right.

Those who had reached the Heavenly Flower Realm were reborn. They had broken through the limits of martial arts and, though they had the form of humans, it was no exaggeration to say that they were no longer human.

They possessed overwhelming abilities and were not controlled by anyone. Most of them had some mental abnormality, showing a different side from when they were human.

Such people were now rampant on the continent and beyond.

“Thinking about it that way, I can understand the Black Imperial Castle Lord’s decision.”

The Emperor nodded.

“Like me, the Limitless Ones are just a part of a larger strategy. Even the Black Imperial Castle Lord, with his outstanding wisdom and sharp insight, cannot fully grasp them all. If he were to release these unpredictable individuals on every battlefield, he might have to redraw the picture.”

“……That could be the case.”

Gi Cheon-ung shook his head.

“I knew that people have different perspectives and thoughts, but I am realizing it again like this.”

At that moment.

Thud.

A powerful vibration was heard from somewhere far away.

If the vibration could be heard even in this secret place, which was said to be the safest place in the Imperial Palace, it could only mean that the Limitless Ones had collided.

“Has the enemy invaded the Imperial Palace?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Gi Cheon-ung turned his head.

“The battle in the western part of the Imperial Palace has ended in victory. All that remains is the final battle with the northern surprise attack force.”

“Hmm.”

“They intended to occupy the Imperial Palace by attacking the west with 25,000 troops as bait. But the Black Imperial Castle Lord, who saw through that, led the troops back to the north after winning the western battle.”

“Then?”

“That means the Divine Flame’s surprise attack force is also putting up a desperate fight.”

The Emperor’s eyes flashed.

“What do you think? Do you think we can win?”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if we couldn’t win?”

Gi Cheon-ung recalled Yeon Ho-jeong, who was charging with a giant axe, and Yeon Wi, who was destroying enemies with his divine sword techniques.

And even Master Mu Heo, who was using a martial art that naturally aroused a sense of competition.

“They have only two choices. Either charge and die, or retreat and plan for the future.”